title: Microcystins: measuring human exposure and the impact on human health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Freshwater cyanobacterial toxins, microcystins, may be a contributing factor to the development of hepatocellular cancer and colorectal cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review summarizes the toxicity data, exposure routes and the methodologies available to determine exposure to elucidate the relationship to liver and colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature searches were conducted using Medline, PubMed and Web of Science.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is evidence of human poisonings resulting from exposure to microcystins, however current methods rely on targeted approaches only suitable for acute exposure. No methods exist for the determination of chronic exposure to microcystins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the growing evidence of exposure to microcystins and the possible links to cancer, methods to measure medium to long-term human exposure are needed. The identification and validation of candidate biomarkers are key to undertaking urgently required epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University , Belfast , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Julie P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Meneely
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D052998:Microcystins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests
chemical_list: D052998:Microcystins